Invincible's newest villain has made an instant impression as his fight against Mark Grayson was incredibly bloody and brutal, but while Conquest is a unique character in his own right, he shares some interesting similarities with The Walking Dead's Negan. With both characters being played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the duo instantly started being compared, especially since they each faced off against characters played by Steven Yeun. However, with Invincible season 3's finale showing off Conquest's personality and true motivations, it turns out he and Negan are even more alike than anticipated given how often they mirror one another.
Although Negan has had a lot more time to develop and has changed drastically since his introduction, Conquest's first full episode gave a detailed insight into his character that proved Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Walking Dead and Invincible villains have plenty in common. It's hard to imagine Conquest matching Negan's redemption arc as the former Savior leader had seasons of villainy before attempting to reform, something Invincible's antagonist may not be afforded. Still, even in his current state, Negan possesses numerous traits that Conquest also has, and it's fascinating to see just how much their early appearances resemble each other.
5Conquest & Negan Have Similar Introductions
Both Villains Launch A Brutal Attack While Taunting The Central Character
Negan's controversial Walking Dead introduction remains memorable to this day and continues to cause debate, but Conquest's first appearance wasn't too dissimilar. When Negan first showed up in the zombie franchise, he rounded up the show's main survivors and instantly filled them with fear. Not only did he murder Abraham in front of the group to send a message, but he also kept the characters in line by killing Glenn after Daryl acted out, creating a divisive episode that caused some fans to quit watching The Walking Dead entirely.
While the overall tone of Conquest's introduction was different, his arrival closely resembled Negan's first scene. He showed up and instantly threatened the protagonist - much like Negan did in TWD - before using violence to get his message across. Conquest promised destruction and beat Mark badly, coming close to killing some of the hero's allies while causing many casualties during the fight. Both villains talked a big game and showcased their strength and power upon their arrival, highlighting how alike their first moments in their respective franchises were.
4Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Walking Dead & Invincible Villains Are Extremely Violent
Negan & Conquest Thrive While Inflicting Punishment
Perhaps the biggest similarity between Negan and Conquest is their excessive violence. Negan beating Abraham and Glenn to death with a baseball bat is arguably the show's most grizzly scene, but it's not the only time the villain gets his hands dirty. He gutted Spencer alive, used a hot iron on one of his followers' faces, and also threw his community doctor into a furnace. Even after changing his ways, he still bashed a man's head through glass panels before slitting his throat as a warning to his enemies, proving he has a violent nature.
Invincible has officially been renewed for season 4.
Conquest is every bit as ruthless and thrives while dishing out punishment. Alongside pummeling Mark, he slowly tried to rip Oliver's body in half and delivered some gnarly attacks to Atom Eve that nearly killed her. The Viltrumite also destroyed parts of the city without even trying and ruthlessly murdered several civilians while essentially using Mark as a weapon. After how great he was at portraying a sadistic killer in The Walking Dead, Jeffrey Dean Morgan's casting as Conquest in Invincible feels incredibly fitting, given how dangerous both characters are.
3Both Characters Have Unexpected Vulnerabilities & Insecurities
Conquest Confessed To Being Lonely While Negan Struggled To Overcome His Checkered Past
Despite the damage they caused in their respective shows, Negan and Conquest have each shown more vulnerable sides that were huge surprises. After Conquest confessed he had no intention of letting Mark surrender and actually wanted him to resist the Viltrum Empire's rule, I was convinced he was simply an unhinged killer. To my surprise, he told Mark that he was incredibly lonely and that the other Viltrumites were scared of him, hence being given a title rather than a name.
His small sign of humanity may have come while trying to kill the protagonist, but it was still unexpected. Likewise, Negan's redemption arc was also a shock given how he started the series. His flashback episode proved it was his tragic past with his dying wife that forced him down a dark path. Additionally, Negan saved Judith's life after reforming and even had sincere regrets about his time in charge of the Saviors, highlighting that he isn't all bad, despite his inexcusable actions.
2Negan & Conquest Both Use Fear To Achieve Their Overarching Goals
Intimidation & Punishing Disobedience Is A Huge Part Of Their Mission
While it's obvious both villains enjoy using violence - at least to a degree - they also use this as a tool to further their overall goal. Negan's very first scene was all about forcing The Walking Dead's main characters into submission, as he slowly broke them down and demanded their obedience. Although Negan believed his leadership was the best way to create peace, he ultimately used the fear of repercussions to make people fall in line, something Conquest has replicated.
Being significantly stronger than most beings means Conquest can scare them into joining the empire, much like Negan's large army forced communities to fall under the Saviors' rule.
Although the villain doesn't really care about the Viltrum Empire's wider goals, Conquest's mission is to take over planets, which he uses intimidation to achieve. Conquest explained in Invincible season 3's finale that he has long sought a real challenge since conquering planets has proven easy for him. Therefore, being significantly stronger than most beings means he can scare them into joining the empire, much like Negan's large army forced communities to fall under the Saviors' rule.
1Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Characters Share Similar Dialog
The Antagonists Talk With A Certain Confidence & Sarcasm That Makes Them Feel Alike
With Jeffrey Dean Morgan playing both villains, it's no surprise they sound the same, but their overall tone and way of speaking are far more similar than any of the actor's other characters. They each have a level of sarcasm in their voice that comes across as condescending, allowing the duo to mock their franchise's main heroes while asserting dominance over them. Conquest and Negan also have outward confidence, yet their sensitive side is also much quieter and more subtle.
Even their moments of rage have a harsh cadence to them that suggests the villains are almost offended by being disobeyed. While Negan has frequently shown a much more defeated and regretful tone in The Walking Dead that Conquest hasn't displayed in Invincible, they both speak in eerily similar ways and have even shared almost identical lines of dialog, making it clear that Morgan's most devious characters have a lot in common.
